PARADISE: The Hereafter is right here after we awaken to what's here. Travel by word and picture through the hills, mountains, valleys, plains, & tea fields of a place that could truly be paradise. If you are seeking the ideal vacation or retreat location, consult these pages often. Read and learn about the culture and history of Kenya. Here, you will see & read of the beauty that I saw & felt from the people & from the land. All photographs by Sophia Asaviour.

Sunday, May 07, 2006

Chief Sekoto Holds Court

This is not a Kenyan story - but, I like it. So, I thought I would share it with you. If any of you have personal stories from Kenya or folk tales from Kenya that you would like to see published here, please e-mail me about it.The following is a story written by South African-born Bessie Head. 'Chief Sekoto Holds Court' is taken from Ms. Head's first novel, When the Rain Clouds Gather.

Even those who did not like chiefs had to concede that Paramount Chief Sekoto was a very charming man. His charm lay not so much in his outer appearance as in his very cheerful outlook on life. In fact, so fond was he of the sunny side of life that he was inclined to regard any gloomy, pessimistic person as insane and make every effort to avoid his company. It was his belief that a witty answer turneth away wrath and that the oil of reason should always be poured on troubled waters.Every weekday morning, Chief Sekoto listened to cases brought before his court, while the afternoons were spent at leisure unless there were people who had made appointments to interview him. This particular Monday morning, a lively and rowdy case was in session when, out of the corner of his eye, Chief Sekoto saw his brother Matenge drive up and park his car opposite the open clearning where court was held. Nothing upset Chief Sekoto more than a visit from his brother, whom he had long classified as belong to the insane part of mankind. He determined to dally over the proceedings for as long as possible in the hope that his brother would become bored and leave. Therefore he turned his full attention on the case at hand.The case had been brought in from one of the outlying villages, called Bodibeng, and the cause of its rodiness was that the whole village of Bodibeng had turned up to witness the trial. A certain old woman of the village, named Mma-Baloi, was charged with allegedly practising witchcraft, and so certain were the villagers of her guilt, that they frequently forgot themselves and burst out into loud chatter and had to be brought to order by the president of the court with threats of fines....to be continued soon (be sure to check back before week's end)

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